‘This order comes as a huge boost for the teams in Broughton,’ said Tom Williams, of Airbus.

‘We must not underestimate the importance of aerospace engineering and manufacturing in Britain which is highly skilled and high-value work, as demonstrated by the important role we play in providing a significant contribution to Airbus commercial airliners.’

More than 8,800 A320 aircraft have been ordered and over 5,300 delivered to some 380 customers and operators worldwide.